Under consideration is a regionalization version corrected with the aim to renew taxons, to give a new interpretation of farming systems and to specify the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the soil cover in agricultural areas. It is of great interest from the historical viewpoint, permitting to study the stages in the development of the purposeful regionalization. The present data may be useful for elaborating new specialized regionalization using the modern GIS-technologies for forecasting the development of agriculture in the nearest future.

The reformation of Russian agriculture and the development of landscape-adaptive agricultural systems have generated interest in the agroecological aspects of studying soil cover patterns. The qualitative evaluation of soil resources is necessary for objective comparison of their quality at the landscape, regional, and interregional levels. The applicability of the soil-ecological index (SEI) as an integral criterion for quality assessment of soils, soil associations, and soil cover patterns on the basis of a common all-Russia scale has been experimentally verified on test plots. This index can also be applied for assessing the degree of contrast in the soil cover. The analysis of different soil-climatic regions in the European part of Russia has shown that the SEI value is well correlated with the soil-climatic conditions. However, for a particular farm, the climatic component of the SEI becomes equal for all the fields. At the same time, the soil properties and geomorphic conditions limiting soil fertility are usually different for different soil combinations, and they become essential upon calculation of the SEI for the particular field. Feasibility of verification and correction of the calculated SEI on the basis of experimental data is shown. This makes it possible to find better-grounded decisions on the agrotechnologies applicable for a given field.

Under consideration are the calculation results obtained by means of the soil and agro-climatic index PAKI to estimate natural-anthropogenic positive and adverse effects on the soil fertility. The assessment of positive effects is exemplified by liming of soils in the southern taiga zone, whereas the assessment of adverse effects is considered with special reference to water erosion and soil washout in the forest-steppe and steppe zones. Such a methodological approach provides comparative spatially orientated information and allows assessing the soil quality rating scores for arable lands, thus showing (1) the efficiency of soil liming and (2) the degree of adverse effects exerted by water erosion on the soil fertility. The application of PAKI index meets demands of soil management and permits to forecast the transformation of soil resources, changes in the soil cover pattern, and soil productivity. It may serve as a background for land taxation.

A new comprehensive natural-economic grouping of Russian lands has been developed. This grouping is based on the assessment of soil and environmental conditions and can be used for the quantitative assessment and analysis of the qualitative status of land resources in Russia. The number of major land groups is relatively small (about 50), and the differences between them are very significant, including the differences in land use options. The grouping is made in the form of tables containing necessary information in text form. The following kinds of information are used: the geographic and natural-climatic areas, the soil names according to the classification systems of 1977 and 2000, the soil texture, the major limiting factors, the relief conditions, the major kinds of land use, and the allowable (optional) kinds of land use.

A new type of map for the substantiation of farming and soil reclamation systems is suggested. The map is derived from integrated data on natural conditions of agrolandscapes and technological measures aimed at the optimization of farming and soil reclamation. Special attention is paid to the assessment of genesis and composition of soils and parent rocks, agroecological features of soils, and causes of waterlogging, as well as to agronomic procedures adequate to natural conditions of typological natural-territorial complexes and their resilience to adverse anthropogenic impact. Alternative possibilities for the use of waterlogged soils of different degree are discussed. The advisability of applying the principles for compiling agrolandscape ecological soil-reclamation maps in different natural zones of Russia is shown.

The assessment of soil fertility and land quality has a long history in Russia. The current stage of land evaluation began in the middle of the 20th century. At present, due to changes in proprietorial relations, the development of land evaluation methods on the new basis is necessary. Under modern social and economic conditions, the state cadastral prices of agricultural lands in Russia are understated. At the same time, for some purposes, the real cost of land should be known. This paper deals with innovative methods of land evaluation on the basis of the proper assessment of the main factors of actual and potential fertility of soils. These methods will be helpful in the development of a more realistic land price policy.

Modern concepts concerning soil and land degradation assessment are considered, Definitions for the main types of soil degradation are given, and a set of indicators for evaluating the degree of soil and land degradation is suggested.

Characterization of dark tropical Vertisols is given by the example of the soils of the Union of Myanmar (formerly Burma). Particle-size distribution, water-physical, chemical, and physicochemical properties of these soils are discussed. The division of the studied soils into two genetic subtypes-calcareous (alkaline) and leached (neutral)-is suggested. The main distinctions of tropical Vertisols from their analogues in the temperate zone are revealed.

Complex agronomic characterization of soils as a source of fundamental knowledge on agronomic properties and features of soils is destined for more efficient use and protection of soil cover. At present, the following problems need to be studied more thoroughly: assessment of soil fertility with respect to concrete crops, understanding of the agronomic compatibility of soils taking into account the structure of soil cover, determination of substantiated soil prices considering their numerous ecological functions.